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Mr. Robert C. Chance,
73 Mill Street,
Mount Holly, New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Cpl. Albert Chance 32362335
Med. Det. 360th. AAA SL Bn.
APO 758 c/o Postmaster, NYC
17 July 1943
Dear Bob and Claudine,
Received Claudines [sic] #12 of June 23 several days ago, and Bob�s #7 of July 6 tonight.
That is about the fastest of any that I have received. Eleven days. After I finish answering
your letters, I�l [sic] have fifteen left to reply to, and the V Mail blanks are running low.
Thanks for sending off the cigars and blanks. I imagine it will take four or five weeks to
get here. As you know, shipping space has been at a premium. The Stars and Stripes says
that there was a fleet of 3000 ships of all sizes used for the invasion of Sicily. Of course
we saw some of the preparations and knew what was coming off, but not when or where. So
I supposed the birthday card won�t get here any too soon. It seems the Army carried every-
thing over here but chevrons. I�m glad to hear that Wilmer got his promotion.
Thank Chrisie Logan for asking after me, and remember me to her when next you see
her.
Bob, I have begged you to give me numbers and dates when speaking about my money
matters, but so far you have ignored my requests. I ask for those things, not to check up
on you, but to see that I get, or rather that you receive all that is coming to me. Deduc-
tions are made from my pay for the bonds and the monthly allotment, and I send money orders
home, and the amounts are all similar, so when you say you received so and so, I cant [sic] tell
which one you are talking about. Please give me the numbers of the checks that you have
drawn against my account together with the dates of the checks. Also give me the numbers of
the war bonds you have received, and the numbers of the money orders received, and the dates
of the checks received f om [sic] Washington. I know you are busy as the devil, but it will take
only a minute to make note of what I ask for and pass it along to me.
The kids at school certainly did a god job of raising money for the jeeps. I wish
they could have sent one to our Detachment, for we need one of our own and can�t get it.
Now you will have to go along a little further on the map. I think I wrote a letter
after arriving here that we were near one of the finest cities of Africa. This week I have
had the opportunity to spend two days there. It is indeed a city of steps. Agreat [sic] number of
the streets are steps. Of course they are only for pedestrians. Yesterday I took a Cook�s
tour around the old quarter of the city, and saw sights that ordinarily would not be seen.
I�ll tell you about that later. Last night I had first tasty meal in Africa. I mean outside
of our mess. It was very simple as are all the meals due to lack of variety of foods, but
it was really good. Soup, omlet [sic] and small potatoes fried whole. In none of the restaurants
that I have been in was there any choice. They have only one meal, so if you don�t like that
you are out of luck. Of course the Army teaches you to eat anything. I forgot to mention
a bunch of grapes for desert [sic]. Cost 35 francs. I was in town on Bastile [sic] Day, and four of us
had dinner in another place of salad that tasted like hay (one of the men said the hay
had been used for a horses bed for three nights), a small piece of hamburger, noodles and
fried potatoes (all tasteless) and plums. For the four of us, that together with three
bottles of champaigne [sic] cost 630 francs. This city has extra long modern street cars hinged
in the middle for curves and good trackless trollies. There are many more civilian autos
than in any other town we have seen. This section of the country is under British control
and of course there are a great many from all parts of the Empire. At dinner we talked to
one Englishman who had been in the Army of Occupation after the last war, and Dunkirk and
thru [sic] the Tunesian [sic] campaign. He indeed had some interesting stories to tell.
All stores, without exception, over here, close for two or two and a half hours
for lunch. There isn�t one open. If it wasn�t for the Service men and women, the streets
would be deserted. There are a lot of WAACs and English women here. About the first ones
I have seen. Hope you are all well.
Sincerely
Albert

Mr. Robert C. Chance,
73 Mill Street,
Mount Holly, New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Cpl. Albert Chance 32362335
Med. Det. 360th. AAA SL Bn.
APO 758 c/o Postmaster, NYC
17 July 1943
Dear Bob and Claudine,
Received Claudines [sic] #12 of June 23 several days ago, and Bob�s #7 of July 6 tonight.
That is about the fastest of any that I have received. Eleven days. After I finish answering
your letters, I�l [sic] have fifteen left to reply to, and the V Mail blanks are running low.
Thanks for sending off the cigars and blanks. I imagine it will take four or five weeks to
get here. As you know, shipping space has been at a premium. The Stars and Stripes says
that there was a fleet of 3000 ships of all sizes used for the invasion of Sicily. Of course
we saw some of the preparations and knew what was coming off, but not when or where. So
I supposed the birthday card won�t get here any too soon. It seems the Army carried every-
thing over here but chevrons. I�m glad to hear that Wilmer got his promotion.
Thank Chrisie Logan for asking after me, and remember me to her when next you see
her.
Bob, I have begged you to give me numbers and dates when speaking about my money
matters, but so far you have ignored my requests. I ask for those things, not to check up
on you, but to see that I get, or rather that you receive all that is coming to me. Deduc-
tions are made from my pay for the bonds and the monthly allotment, and I send money orders
home, and the amounts are all similar, so when you say you received so and so, I cant [sic] tell
which one you are talking about. Please give me the numbers of the checks that you have
drawn against my account together with the dates of the checks. Also give me the numbers of
the war bonds you have received, and the numbers of the money orders received, and the dates
of the checks received f om [sic] Washington. I know you are busy as the devil, but it will take
only a minute to make note of what I ask for and pass it along to me.
The kids at school certainly did a god job of raising money for the jeeps. I wish
they could have sent one to our Detachment, for we need one of our own and can�t get it.
Now you will have to go along a little further on the map. I think I wrote a letter
after arriving here that we were near one of the finest cities of Africa. This week I have
had the opportunity to spend two days there. It is indeed a city of steps. Agreat [sic] number of
the streets are steps. Of course they are only for pedestrians. Yesterday I took a Cook�s
tour around the old quarter of the city, and saw sights that ordinarily would not be seen.
I�ll tell you about that later. Last night I had first tasty meal in Africa. I mean outside
of our mess. It was very simple as are all the meals due to lack of variety of foods, but
it was really good. Soup, omlet [sic] and small potatoes fried whole. In none of the restaurants
that I have been in was there any choice. They have only one meal, so if you don�t like that
you are out of luck. Of course the Army teaches you to eat anything. I forgot to mention
a bunch of grapes for desert [sic]. Cost 35 francs. I was in town on Bastile [sic] Day, and four of us
had dinner in another place of salad that tasted like hay (one of the men said the hay
had been used for a horses bed for three nights), a small piece of hamburger, noodles and
fried potatoes (all tasteless) and plums. For the four of us, that together with three
bottles of champaigne [sic] cost 630 francs. This city has extra long modern street cars hinged
in the middle for curves and good trackless trollies. There are many more civilian autos
than in any other town we have seen. This section of the country is under British control
and of course there are a great many from all parts of the Empire. At dinner we talked to
one Englishman who had been in the Army of Occupation after the last war, and Dunkirk and
thru [sic] the Tunesian [sic] campaign. He indeed had some interesting stories to tell.
All stores, without exception, over here, close for two or two and a half hours
for lunch. There isn�t one open. If it wasn�t for the Service men and women, the streets
would be deserted. There are a lot of WAACs and English women here. About the first ones
I have seen. Hope you are all well.
Sincerely
Albert